Shell filling machine



Ub'wiUaLi J Fmsa Oct. 26, 1937.

R. R ROBISON SHELL FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheeh l y 00. AMMUNI HUN 6; EXPLOSWE CHARGE MAKING Oct. '26, 1937. R. R. ROBISON SHELL FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g mu N v gym CiiARGi Milt-(U 38 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHELL FILLING MACHINE Application September 25, 1933, Serial No. 690,839

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for packing explosive material in shells or cartridges and more specifically relates to a machine which will effect such packing more rapidly than machines heretofore used.

In the patent to Kimber 813,435, dated February 27, 1906, there is illustrated a cartridge loading machine to which the machine of the present invention bears a considerable resemblance in its general construction and mode of operation. Machines of the Kimber type have been widely used and have been found to be very satisfactory in the filling of shells. Essentially they involve plungers which pass through a supply trough of a fibrous, non-free flowing explosive material, such as dynamite, and carry a certain amount of it within the shell, tamping it therein. In general, the amount of dynamite carried into a shell on each stroke is relatively small and the operation of packing is accordingly prolonged.

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide means for insuring the entry of a larger amount of explosive material within a shell upon each stroke of its tamping rod to thereby speed up the packing operation but,

nevertheless, effect such operation in a satisfac-' tory manner, producing the proper compacting of the explosive Within the shell.

The above and other objects relating to details of construction will be apparent from the follow ing description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1A is a vertical section through a portion of the improved machine showing the parts associated to pack a single shell;

Fig. 1B is an elevation showing certain of the operating parts; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the major portion of the machine.

Upon a sloping frame 2 there are supported tracks 4 on which there slides a crosshead 6 driven by links 8 connected to crankpins l0 carried by a power driven shaft I2. The crosshead 6 is provided with a plurality of fingers l6 adapted to engage with racks 6| on a corresponding number of flattened tamping rods 20. The fingers 16 may be held out of engagement with the racks 6| by means of spring catches l4, but even in this position they will engage stops 62 carried on the tamping rods 26. The rods 20 are suitably guided through the crosshead 6 and also through a cross member 23.

Attached to each tamping rod is a cord 24 passing over a pulley 26 and supporting at its end a weight 28 guided by vertical rods 29. At the rear end of each tamping rod there is a hook 30 arranged to be engaged by a tooth of a pawl 32 which is pivoted on a shaft and held in position to cause it to engage the hook by means of a spring 34. It may be dislodged from such position against the tension of spring 34 by manipulation of a, shaft 36 carrying a finger engaging each pawl.

At the lower end of the machine there is provided a sloping transverse hopper 38 through which there extends a stirrer 40 designed to be rotated to prevent the explosive material from packing in the trough and also uniformly distribute it in front of the tamping rods. Extending outwardly from the trough in line with each of the tamping rods there is provided a nipple 42 which receives the open end of a, shell 44 held in a carrier 46. There is also aligned with each of the tamping rods 20 a fibre nipple 43, these nipples 43 being carried by individual crossheads 45 which are guided on horizontal rods 41. Each of the crossheads is connected to a rod 48 which is urged forwardly by a spring 50 towards its extreme position which is determined by the en gagement of a collar 52 with the fixed member 23. The rods 48 pass through openings Within an extension 54 of the crosshead 6 and are provided with stop collars 56 arranged to be engaged by 54. The rods also pass through an upwardly extending member 58 carried by each corresponding tamping rod and are provided with collars 60 arranged to be engaged by the various members 58. The members 58 engage collars 60 but are arranged to clear collars 56.

When the machine is to be operated shells 44 are placed in position over the ends of the nipples 42, being held in the shell holder 46. If the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1A, irrespective of rotation of the shaft I2 and movements of the crosshead 6 no tamping action will occur. The tamping action may be started by disengaging detents 32 from the hooks 30 of the tamping rods. The tamping rods are then moved forwardly through the action of the weights 28. As the tamping rods move forwardly the nipples 43 also move forwardly under the action of the springs 50 until the collars 52 engage the member 23 at which time the forward ends of the nipples just clear the plate which supports the fixed nipples 42. During such forward movement they will, of course, entrap a considerable quantity of the explosive within the hopper 38. Up to this point they have moved in unison with the tamping rods. Following this, however, the tamping rods continue to move forwardly independently of the nipples and drive the powder from the nipples into the shells. In this tamping action the rods 20 move forward until the explosive material in their individual shells is fully compacted by reason of the inertia of the weight 28.

As the crosshead moves rearwardly the fingers l6 engage with stops 62 on the rods 20, and are by this engagement disengaged from spring catches M. The rods 20 are thus moved rearwardly by the crosshead. In this retracting stroke, if the shells have not been filled, as of course will be true even after several strokes, the tamping rods 20 will not be retracted enough to cause engagement of their hooks with the pawls 32. The movable nipples 43, however, will be fully retracted by engagement of the stops 56 by the crosshead extension 54.

Upon the next forward stroke of the crosshead the nipples 43 and the tamps 22 will again move forward and pack more explosive material into the shell 44. However, the forward motion of tamp 22 and rod 20 will be limited by the powder in the shell, and the crosshead will move on forward in relation to rods 20 causing the fingers IE to slip and engage in more forwardly located notches in racks 6|. The rearward stroke of the crossheadvwill then retract the tamps 22 and nipples 43.

This cycle will continue with each finger l6 taking a position in the rack 6 I on the corresponding tamping rod 20 determined by the amount of explosive in the shell served by that rod, and so causing the tamping rod to be retracted farther & and farther on each rearward stroke of the crosshead 6, until, when the shell is filled with explosive, the rod will be sufficiently retracted to cause the hook 30 to engage with the corresponding pawl 32. The following forward stroke of the crosshead 6 will cause finger I6 to engage cam l8 on the tamping rod 20 and so become engaged again with spring catch 14. Thereafter, further movements of the crosshead will not effect tamping strokes of this tamping rod. At the same time the collar 66, engaged by the upturned member 58, holds the movable nipple 43 corresponding to the inactive tamping rod so as to prevent its advance through the explosive material.

It will be obvious from the above that the filling of the shells will take place more guickly u in the machines heretofore us'ed inasmuch"a"s"a substantially greater amount of explosive is introduced upon each reciprocation. This is due to the fact that in its forward stroke each nipple 43 entraps a considerable amount of the explosive which is forced into a shell with very little loss.

The filling of the shells to a predetermined degree is insured in an obvious fashion inasmuch as the motion of a tamping rod will not cease until its rearward stroke will cause it to be engaged by its correspondingpawl 32.

It will be clear that various changes may be made in details of the invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for packing non-free flowing explosive material in shells, comprising a container for the explosive material having a plurality of discharge openings therein, means for supporting shells to be filled in direct communication with said container through said discharge openings, a plurality of open-ended tubes arranged in line with said discharge openings and extending into said container, means constantly urging said tubes forward through the explosive material in said container toward said discharge openings, a plurality of tamping rods carrying tamps of sufficiently small diameter to pass entirely through said tubes and said discharge openings into said shells arranged in line with said tubes and said discharge openings, means secured to said tamp rods for reciprocating said tamps, and means adapted to retract said tubes against said forwardly urging means on each rearward stroke of said rods, whereby on each forward stroke of said rods the said tubes move forwardly to segregate a portion of said explosive material-in the container directly in front of said discharge open ings, which portion is packed into the shells by the action of the tamps.

2. Apparatus for packing non-free flowing explosive material in shells, comprising a container for the explosive material having a plurality of discharge openings therein, means for supporting shells to be filled in direct communication with said container through said discharge openings, a plurality of open-ended tubes arranged in line with said discharge openings and extending into said container, means constantly urging said tubes forward through the explosive material in said container toward said discharge openings, a plurality of tamping rods carrying tamps of sufficiently small diameter to pass entirely through said tubes and said discharge openings into said shells arranged in line with said tubes and said discharge openings, means for reciprocating said tamping rods, and means secured to said tamping rods adapted to retract said tubes against said forwardly urging means on each rearward stroke of said rods and to prevent forward motion of said tubes except during forward motion of said rods, whereby on each forward stroke of said rods the said tubes move forwardly to Segregate a portion of said explosive material in the container directly in front of said discharge openings, which portion is packed into the shells by the action of the tamps. 3. Apparatus for packing non-free flowing explosive material in shells, comprising a container for the explosive material having a plurality of discharge openings therein, means for supporting shells to be filled in direct communication withsa id c q r tainer through said discharge openfigs", a plurality of open-ended tubes arranged in line with said discharge openings and extending into said container, means constantly urging said tubes forward through the explosive material in said container toward said discharge openings, a plurality of tampingrods carrying tamps of sufficiently small diameter to pass entirely through said tubes and said discharge openings into said shells arranged in line with said tubes and said discharge openings, means for reciprocating said tamping rods, means secured to said tamping rods adapted to retract said tubes against said forwardly urging means on each rearward stroke of said rods and to prevent forward motion of said tubes except during forward motion of said rods, and means for locking individual tamping rods and tubes against further movement and in their rearmost position when the corresponding shell is filled, whereby on each forward stroke of said rods the said tubes move forwardly to segregate a portion of said explosive material in the container directly in front of said discharge openings, which portion is packed into the shells by the action of the tamps.

RALPH R. ROBISON.

f CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION v v Patent-No." 2,'o9?,o3o.' j October 26, 19 7.-

RALPH R. ROBISON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page 2, first column, line 21, strike out the word "material"; line 21+, for '"powder read explosive material; and second column, lines 8 and 9, claim 1, strike out "secured to said tamp rods" and insert the same after "means", line 9, same claim; line 9, same claim 1, for "temps" read tamping rods; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. D. 1957.

Henr Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Patent No. 2,097,080. October 26, 1957.

RALPH R. RcBIsoN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. a 3

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speciification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 2, first column, line 21, strike out the word "material"; line 21;,

for "powder" read explosive material; and second column, lines 8 and 9, claim 1, strike out "secured to said tamp rods" and insertthe same after "means", line 9, same claim; line 9, same claiml, for "tamps" read tamping rods; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. D. 195?.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

